Refrigerating apparatus



March 9, 1937. H. B. HULL 2,073,106 7 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Filed May 21, 1955 24 L 27 2 Z T t L M j 23 l l 28 z 2 Adm-er .3. 6 044.

M Mg,

HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry B. Hull, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio. a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1935, Serial No. 22,551v

is Claims.

m the refrigerating eifect produced by an evaporator.

of a refrigerating system to cool and condense a volatile fluid contained in a plurality of individually closed conduits or chambers attached in duits to an evaporator of a refrigerating system 25 so that certain conduits may be removed and re-' lege'nd'of the display or advertising apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being'had tothe accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a diagrammatic showin of a refrigerating system employed in the construction of with the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through one of the characterforming conduits shown therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational rear view of one of the character-forming members.

I am aware that others have formed therefrigerant expansion conduit or pipe of an evaporator of a refrigerating system to represent a legend and have utilized the cooling effect produced by the evaporator to cause frost or ice to 50 accumulate on the evaporator to render the legend attractive as an advertising apparatus or device. The legend of an advertising device formed in this manner is an integral part of the refrigerating system or at least of the evaporator thereof and the legend cannot be removed and evaporator.

type which is rendered attractive by the refrigplaced by certain other conduits to change the.

an advertising apparatus made in accordance ,voir 22 where it is stored prior to its being cirreplaced'by other legends without removing the This -obviously requires considerable time and labor onthe part of one skilled in the refrigerating'art. My invention is directed to the'provision of an advertising device of the 5 crating eifect produced by an evaporator of a refrigerating system which can'have its entire legend or certain characters of the legend readily changed without employing'a refrigeration service man.

' Referring to the drawing, for the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have showndiagrammatically in Fig. 1 thereof a closed volatile refrigerating medium circulating system. Anyv suitable and well-known refrigerating system may be employed in carrying out my invention and I have disclosed one form of conventional system. The refrigerating system herein dis closed includes a refrigerant liquefying and circirculating unit comprising a compressor ill which is operated bybein'g connected, through belt and pulley "connections I l, to an electric motor. ,12. Operations of motor [2 are controlled by any suitable or conventional electric snap acting switch l3. Switch I3 is in the present disclosure actuated into a circuit making or breaking position by expansion ,or'contraction of a bellows It in response tonpressures within the low pressure side of the refrigerating system. Operation of the compressor It) causes same to withdraw vaporized refrigerant from an evaporator l5 through the gaseous refrigerant pipe or conduit I6 which has a branch conduit H mm nected to the bellows M. The vaporized refrigerant is compressed by compressor Ill and. forwarded under pressure, through pipe [9, to a condenser 2| wherein it is cooled and liquefied in.

any well-knownpmanner. liquefied refrigerant flows from condenser 2| 'into a. receiver or reser- 4o culated to the evaporator l5. Any suitable or conventional design of expansion valve may be employed for controlling the ingress of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator. In the present disclosure the expansion valve 23 is connected to a thermostat bulb 24' having a pipe connection 25 with the valve 23. The bulb 24 and pipe 25 are partially filled with a volatile fluid and the temperature at the outlet of the evaporator J5 a1'- the valve for controlling the how of liquid refrigerant through the liquid line 28 from reservoir 22 to evaporator l5. The temperature of the evaporator l5 may therefore be maintained between predetermined limits in accordance with 6 the amount of refrigeration to 'be produced by the'evaporator or cooling element. The refrigerant liquefyirig and circulating unit is intermittently operated independently of the opera-' tion of expansion valve 23 and in accordance with-the pressure of refrigerant in the pipe line It to supply liquid refrigerant to receiver 22 The evaporator orcooling element I5 is in the present disclosure in the form of a pipe loop having a horizontally disposed portion 28 coi1- nected to valve 23 and anotherportion 23connected to the gaseous refrigerant return pipe I8. Refrigerant flows from valve 23 into the por; tion 28 of evaporator l5 and this portion of the I evaporator is therefore the coldest part thereof. The refrigerating eifect produced by the evaporator I5 is of course to be maintained below the temperature of the atmosphere or below the temperature of the room or window in which the evaporator is located. In utilizing the refrigerat' ing effect produced by .the evaporator 5 for making an attractive and novel advertising device in accordance with the invention I'secure-a pluraiity of individually'closed conduits or chamber members 3 I, each partially filled with the volatile liquid designated by the reference character 32 in Fig. 2, to and in intimate thermal association or contact with the pipe portion 28 of the evaporator |5. Each member 3| comprises a "flat sheet metal portion 3'3 placed upon and secured to a substantially. flat corrugated sheet metal portion 34 (see Figs. 2,3 and 4) The sheetfmetal portion 34 of each member 3| is corrugated as at 38 to "provide a passage or conduit 38 between i the metal portions-33 and 34 of a contour (see 40 Fig. 4) to represent a certain character su'ch V as a letter, number or any other insigniaa The boundaries of the sheet metal portion 33,-\which 'form the front of members 3|-, are cut or fashioned to correspond with the contour of the cone duiv or passage 38 formed by the corrugation 38 in the sheet metal portion 34., In the present disclosure the member-sill represent or define the letters F" and R" and it is to be understood. .that any number 01' these members maybe pro- .60 vvided and may represent any number of a plurality of letters or numbers to form any desired legend, word or words. The members "3| are each provided 'with a metallic spring clip 38, which clip is welded or otherwise secured to ,the sheet metal portion'34 as, at 38, The spring clip 38 ispreferably in the form of a u so as to be capable of being snapped'over the pipe 23 into tight and intimate thermal contact with this pipe portion of the evaporator IL The spring clip 33 provides a means for readily attaching mem bers 3| to, or for removing the members 3| from,

the pipe 28 to enabletcertain of the letters of the legend or 'the entire legend to be changed. Portions of pipe 28 of evaporator l8 ay be insulated by any suitable insulating i terial 4| (see Fig. 3) so as to prevent those portions of pipe 28 between various characters or members 3| vof the legend'from becoming coated withffrost or ice to thereby prevent pipe 281mm obstructing the appearance of the characters of the legend-to be displayed. The insulation 4| will, of course, be terminated at predetermined points along the length ofpipe 28 to permit the spring clips 38' 7 on the various character members 3| to be directly attached to the refrigerant expansion pipe 28. The pipe portion 28 of evaporator IS'may be extended beyond the legend to be displayed but is in the present disclosure preferably positioned in the same horizontal plane with pipe portion 28 and in back of this pipe portion 28 so as not to-obstruct the legend formed by the character members 3i. The pipe portion 23 of evaporator IS-may, if desired, be covered with the insulating material 4|. It may also be desirable to cover the back sheet metal portion 34 of the character members 3| with the insulation 4| so as to insure complete frosting of the front of the Operation of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the refrigerating system causes refrigerant ,to be circulated through evaporator f5 and the expansion and vaporization of the refrigerant therein produces a refrigeratingv effect' or a temperature on the outer walls of the-evaporator' below that of the atmosphere orbelow the'temperature of the room or display window in which the evaporator is located- This low temperature is conducted by pipe portion 28 of evaporator I! through the metallic spring clip 38 to the metal of themember 3|. The volatile fluid 32 in the closed conduit character members -3| beingin a vaporized state prior to the starting.

3|. The condensed or. liquefied fluid 32 fiows to the bottom portion of members and is again vaporized by the environment temperature surrounding these members in its effort to cool at least the front wall of the closed conduit members. Continued evaporation and condensation of the volatile fluid 32 in members 3| causes the mem-, bers to bereduced to a low temperature whereby frost or ice accumulatesin the form of snow, oirwalls of the members 3|. The members 3| are thereby rendered attractive in displaying certain letters or words-of the legend formed by a plurality oi the individually closed conduit charac--' ter members. l I

-It will be seen that I have provided (an im proved di'splaydevice or apparatm wherein certain characters or letters of a legend maybe readily removed from-and replaced -on the evaporator of a refrigerating system to change the legent or wherein all bf the characters of the legend maybe readily removed tqprovide a different legend. a The legend of my improved display apparatus can be readily and easily changed without interrupting the operation of the refrigerating system and without removing the evaporator from the system to;thereby=permit such legends to be changed by the owneror usenbf the advertising device without, the necessity of calling a refrigeration service man.

' While the form of embodiment of the invention asherein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form,

it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted. all coming within the scope claims which follow. -What is claimed is as follows: I

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium cirof the characters formed by the closed conduit memi cult including a' cooling element and means for circul'ating'a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, a closed conduit partially filled with a volatile liquid and secured in intimate thermal secured in intimate thermal association with said association withsaid cooling element, and said conduit having the contour of a certain character.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for ,circulating a refrigerating medium through the w element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, a closed conduit partially filled with a volatile liquid and detachably secured in intimate thermal association" with said cooling element, and said conduit having the contour of a certain character.

3.A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same'to produce a refrigerating efiect, a plurality of individually'closed conduits each partially filled with a volatile liquid and cooling element, and each of said conduits having the contour of certain characters of a legend.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to causesame to produce a refrigerating effect, a plurality of individually closed conduits each partially filled with a volatile liquid and detachably secured in intimate thermal association with said cooling element, andeach of said conduits having the contour of certain characters of a legend.

5. A refrigerating apparatus .comprising in combination, a ciosed refrigerating medium circuit including a ooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating eifect,sheet metal portions having certain parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit member said closed conduit member being partially filled with a volatile liquid and having the contour of a certain character, and means for 5 securing said conduit member in intimate thermal association with said cooling element.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for 0 circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, sheet metal portions having, certain parts thereof securedtogether and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit member, said closed conduit member being partially filled with a volatile liquid and having the contour of a certain character, and means for detachably securing said conduit member in intimate thermal association with said cooling element.

' thereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit 8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in member, said closed conduit member being partially filled with a'volatile 'liquid'and having the contour of a certain character, and means on. said conduit member for' detachably securing same in intimate thermal association with said cooling element. I

cuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, sheet metal portions having certain, parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit member, said closed conduit member being partially filled with a volatile liquid and having the contour of a certain character and a spring clip of good-heat conducting material on said conduit member for detachably securing same in intimate thermal association with said cooling element.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit includinga cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, sheet metal portions having certain parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apartto form a closed conduit member, other sheet metal portions having certain parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form another closed conduit member, said conduit members being separatefrom and independent of one another and each being partially filled with a volatile liquid, each of said conduit members having" thereof secured together and certain other partsthereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit member, other sheet metal portions having certain parts thereofsecured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart'to form another closed conduit member, said conduit members being separate from and independent of one another and each being partially filled with a volatile liquid, each of said conduit members having the contour-of certain characters of a legend, and means for detachably securing each of said members in intimate thermal association withsaid cooling element.

' 11'. A refrigerating apparatus-comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, sheet metal portions having certain parts. thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to forma closed'conduit member, other sheet metal portions having oer-- tain parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form another closedconduit member, said conduit members being separate from and independent of one an-;'

other and each being partially filled with a vola tile liquid, each of said conduit members having the contour of certaincharacters of a legend,

ably securing the independentmembers in intimate thermal association with said cooling element.,

and means on each of said'members for detach 12, Arefrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including 'a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating mediumthrough the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, sheet metal portions havingcertain parts thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form a closed conduit member, other sheet metal portions having certain parts .thereof secured together and certain other parts thereof spaced apart to form another closed conduit member, said. conduit members being separate from and independent of one an- 1 other and each being partially filled with a cuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium'through the: element to cause same to produce a refrigerating effect, a, closed passage or chamber detachably-l secured in intimate thermal association with said cooling element; said closed passage or chamber having the contour of a certain character to be I displayed, and a refrigerating fluid within said closed passage or chamber for transmitting and distributing the refrigerating effect producedby ex-y said .closed passages or chambers having the 30 contour of certain characters of a legend'to be said cooling clement uniformly over certain posed surfaces of said character.

14. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circult including a cooling element and means for circulating refrigerating medium through the element to cause same to produce a refrigerating I cifect, a closed passage or chamber detachably secured in intimate thermal association with said cooling element, said closed passage or chamber having the contour of a certain character to be displayed, a refrigerating fluid within said closed passage or chamber for'transmittinglfand distributing the refrigerating effect produced by said cooling element uniformly over certain exposed surfaces of said character, and means for'insulating portions of said cooling element beyond said character to prevent the refrigerating effect produced in the cooling element from causing frost to accumulate thereon. I h

15. A"refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium cir-V cuit'including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating medium throughthel0 element to cause same to produce a'refrigerating effect, a plurality of individually closed passages or chambers detachably secured in intimate thermal association with said cooling element, each of said closed passages or chambers havingthe i5 contour of certain characters of a legend to be displayed, and. a refrigerating fluid within each 'of said closed passages .pr chambers for transmitting and distributing the refrigerating effect produced by said co'oling element uniformly over 20 'certain exposed surfaces of said characters.

16. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerating medium circuit including a cooling element and means for circulating a refrigerating mediuin'through the 25 elementto cause same to produce a refrigerating efl'ect, a plurality of individually closed passages or chambers detachably secured in intimate thermal association with said coolingv element, each of duced by saidcoolingelement uniformly over' certain exposed surfaces of said "characters, and

'means for insulating portions of said cooling element beyond and between said characters to. preventthe refrigerating eflect produced in thecooling element from causing frost to accumulate 40 thereon.

HARRY B. 

